[Giveaway] This Babywearing Newbie is Going to MommyCon and You Can Too

I consider myself a seasoned mom, having two kids and a newborn baby.  However, since having my first baby in almost six years ago to having my third baby just this past November – there’s so much that I’m still discovering and learning as a mother.  For one, I finally figured out how to have the best maternity leave ever.  Also, I recently started learning about babywearing and all its wonderful benefits.

It all started with this nifty video that popped up on my Facebook feed:

 

I was intrigued by how simple this looked and then I bought a Moby wrap on impulse just before leaving for Florida.  Alyssa and I loved it immediately!  I was able to get stuff done around the house while she slept peacefully in the wrap. I looked up YouTube videos and learned how to breastfeed hands-free while wearing her. Ever since, it’s been our go-to carrier (no stroller!) when traveling and sightseeing with the baby:

At the beach:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

At the mall:moby wrap, babywearing

At the restaurant:

moby wrap, babywearing

At the zoo:moby wrap, babywearing

We’re in love with the Moby wrap!  It’s so easy to travel with her and discreetly breastfeed in public.  How did I not know about this with my other two babies?!  I was hungry for more information on babywearing so started doing some research and came across a couple Facebook groups – and holy smokes!  There’s an entire subculture and luxury goods market around babywearing.  It’s a completely new world to me – from the different wraps, slings, carriers, holds, textures, colors and patterns.  People collect, sell, and trade them in prices ranging from $100-1200+.

My faithful Moby wrap falls into the “stretchy wrap” category and is good for babies up to 15 lbs., so Alyssa and I will need a new one soon. I started pinning some of the pretty wraps and carriers on my Pinterest board here.  I’d like to try different ones on before taking the plunge and spending over $100, and I found out that there are local babywearing chapters where you can try different ones on and even borrow from their library of carriers.

I also found out that MommyCon is coming to Chicago on February 21st ***SQUEAL*** where there will be a “Babywearing Lounge” where I can try on different carriers and get some help from babywearing experts.

Also, I’m super excited to announce that I’ll be attending on official business as a MommyCon blogger (in exchange for free admission to the event).  I have a badge to prove it:

MC_bloggerbadge_white

If you’re not familiar with this event, it’s a boutique-style convention with all sorts of seminars for parents-to-be, new parents, and parents with toddlers on breastfeeding, babywearing, cloth diapering, and organic products that fit into our modern lifestyles.  You can check out the schedule of events in Chicago here.  I’m looking forward to the Babywearing Lounge the most and I plan on bringing Alyssa so we can find a wrap or carrier that works for us.

This is my first event that I’m covering LIVE as a blogger and I’m a little nervous because I can be such an awkward person IRL.  Sweaty upper lip, shifty eyes, nervous laughter.  You won’t be able to tell if I’m too excited or if I have to pee…just plain awkward.  (Okay, maybe I’m not that bad.  Ha ha!)  So I’m hoping that a few friends or readers will come along to take the edge off of my social weirdness!  If you’re in the local area, you can come to MommyCon Chicago, too, and receive $5 off of the admission price using my promo code: MOMMYAZ15

Or you can enter for a chance to win a ticket for admission (a $40 value).  Two winners will be chosen!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway ends on 2/11/2015 at 12:00am EST and notified via email.

Here are some other goodies and details on MommyCon Chicago:

  • Date: Saturday, February 21, 2015
  • Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
  • Location: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL
  • Price: $40, get a $5 discount using promocode MOMMYAZ15
  • To purchase tickets and for more info go to Mommy-Con.com

Hope to see you there!

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Comments

  1. I want to go!!! :::whines:::
    Why didn’t we get to meet when I lived there, Gracielle?
    I didn’t have a wrap, I had a sling, I loved that sling.
    XOXO
    Mrs.AOK recently posted…Currently {January}My Profile

  2. Emily Meyer says:

    I can’t wait to visit the babywearing lounge! I feel like I’m doing the ring sling wrong.

  3. Trying out some new baby carriers! I currently use a sling but my babe is getting older now, I think I’d like to try a Woven! Also, looking forward to seeing TLB and getting some more nursing encouragement. And of course, The Baby Guy! Love him!

  4. Darn it! That is the weekend I have to take my husband to the airport,or I would have gone. The ticket price is actually not that bad. With my second kid if God blesses us with one I am definitely getting a baby wearing carrier,that is the one baby gear I ended up not getting with my first one. My sister inlaw is due in April and I want to totally get them an Ergo! My brother wants one actually lol. Have fun!

    • Rosemont is soooo close to the airport (if you’re going to ohare). I heard lots of good things about the ergo, too! You will definitely have your hands full once you have 2. Start doing research now because it seems like there is a lot to know about babywearing – I’m so overwhelmed!

  5. I want one! If I have a third baby, I’ll go the Moby route. I saw them with my first two, but they seemed too complicated. Now I realize they’re quite simple and brilliant.
    Tamara recently posted…The Sad Airplane Ask Away Friday.My Profile

    • I’ll admit, it is kind of clunky to get the Moby on, so I usually just put it on before I get in the car (not with baby in it!) then when we get there, I just plop her in there and we are good to go! We don’t even use a stroller 🙂

  6. It looks so natural! That’s a great “invention”!!! I think the best part is having both of your hands free just in case you need something! And yeah, breastfeeding discreetly in public is a huge help too. Wish you all the best on your first event!

  7. Stephanie Bass says:

    Totally looking forward to learning about all things baby and cloth diapers and wrapping!

  8. I’d like to learn from expert mamas!

  9. Would love to check out the baby wearing lounge at mommycon!!!

  10. Kelli Fisher says:

    I am desperate to try some carrier options other than the Moby. I’m a new mom to a 2 month old, exclusively breastfeeding and I can feel my legs and butt muscles deteriorating because I don’t use them enough. I would love to be able to walk around more but also keep my little one asleep. I hate disrupting her sleep (which is usually on or with me).

    • My little one is 2 months old also and I’ve mostly carried her in a Moby. Takes awhile to put on, so I’m looking forward to using a soft-structured carrier because it seems easier to put on and take off. I want to try ’em all! Thanks for stopping by, Kelli 🙂
      Gracielle recently posted…[Vlog] Oooh, My First Tula!My Profile

  11. I think that the moby is good for >15 pounds you just need to change up the hold, at least I hope so since my 3 month old is 15 pounds already! I really hope I get to go to Mommycon this year…if I win I will be sure to reach out and dry the sweaty upper lip 😉

  12. I’m looking forward to learning about starting to potty train!

  13. I would really love some help with my carriers and maybe try a different one too!

    • I went to a local babywearing chapter meeting yesterday and they had some babywearing experts there. They were so helpful! I could only learn so much from watching YouTube videos and the small adjustments that the expert showed me made a world of a difference. They even help you find the right size when trying on different sizes. So I’m looking forward to a supercharged session like that at MommyCon, too!

  14. I really hope that I’ll be able to learn more about woven wraps!

    • Hi Gina! Me, too. They are so beautiful, I want them all! I was able to borrow a woven wrap from the local babywearing chapter library and I love it so far! Alyssa loves it, too 🙂

  15. Thanks for the post! I am so excited about mommycon and think it would be such a great way to spend my birthday! I really hope I get a chr to go. If not, I look forward to reading your blog about it!

    • Thanks for stopping by, Rebecca! That would be an awesome birthday treat. Fingers crossed for you 🙂

      Not sure if you saw on FB, but the general admission tickets are sold out, but you can still purchase tickets for a half-day session (no gift bag) for $30, and get $5 off with promo code MOMMYAZ15.

  16. I would love to try new carriers also! And find other great products. I have a 5 year old and a 7 month old and I feel like so much has changed!

    • I agree – there’s so much cool stuff there since I had my first daughter (she’s also 5)! I’m looking forward to seeing new, innovative products that aren’t quite mainstream yet.

  17. I am looking forward to checking out different baby carriers. I currently use and ergo, used a moby when she was first born but now I am looking for other options.

    • I want to try them all! It’s also nice to get feedback from the babywearing experts and other mommas on which options they liked best. Thanks for stopping by, Kelly!

  18. I’m looking forward to the sleep and potty training seminars. And Milkin Cookies samples!

  19. Alyssa Allen says:

    This will be my first mommycon and im excited just to take it all in! 🙂

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